Budget & Finance

Financial Transparency

Fiscal accountability requirements for Colorado special districts

The Southern Park County Fire Protection District is committed to full financial transparency and compliance with all Colorado statutes governing special district finances. The District prepares and adopts an annual budget, conducts an annual audit, and certifies its mill levy in accordance with Colorado law.

All financial documents are available for public inspection at the District office during regular business hours and are posted on this website as required by law.

C.R.S. § 29-1-101 et seq. — Colorado Local Government Budget Law Every local government, including special districts, must annually prepare and adopt a budget, hold a public hearing thereon, and appropriate the funds necessary to carry out its governmental functions. The budget must be available for public inspection.

C.R.S. § 32-1-1101 — Special District Financial Provisions Special districts must maintain proper accounts and records of all receipts and disbursements. Annual financial reports must be filed with the Division of Local Government (DOLA) within 180 days after the close of the fiscal year, or within 60 days of completion of an audit.

Current Mill Levy

12.270

Mills — Fiscal Year 2026

Certified per C.R.S. § 39-5-121

Annual Budget Process

Required steps under C.R.S. § 29-1-103 through § 29-1-113

📄 1. Budget Preparation

Budget officer prepares proposed budget
Submitted to Board by October 15 (C.R.S. § 29-1-105)
Must include prior year actuals, current year estimates, and proposed year amounts
Must show all anticipated revenues and expenditures
Fund balance and reserve information included

📢 2. Public Notice & Hearing

Notice of budget hearing published at least 5 days before hearing (C.R.S. § 29-1-109)
Proposed budget available for public inspection
Public hearing held before December 15
Any elector may file objections to the proposed budget
Notice published in newspaper of general circulation

✅ 3. Budget Adoption

Board adopts final budget by resolution
Must be adopted by December 15 (C.R.S. § 29-1-108)
Appropriation ordinance/resolution passed simultaneously
Adopted budget filed with DOLA within 30 days
Budget may be amended during year per C.R.S. § 29-1-109

💲 4. Mill Levy Certification

Mill levy certified to County Assessor by December 15
Certification per C.R.S. § 39-5-121
TABOR limit calculations verified
Excess tax revenue refunded per TABOR if required
Mill levy set to raise sufficient revenue for budget

Annual Budgets

Adopted budgets available for public inspection per C.R.S. § 29-1-109

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C.R.S. § 29-1-109 — Budget Availability The adopted budget shall be made available for public inspection at the principal office of the local government. A copy of the budget shall be filed with the Division of Local Government within 30 days of adoption.

Audit Reports

Annual independent audits pursuant to C.R.S. § 29-1-601 et seq.

The District undergoes an annual independent financial audit conducted by a licensed Colorado Certified Public Accountant, as required by the Colorado Local Government Audit Law, C.R.S. § 29-1-601 et seq.

The audit report includes:

Independent Auditor's Report
Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)
Government-Wide Financial Statements
Fund Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Supplementary Information
Single Audit (if applicable — federal expenditures ≥ $750,000)

C.R.S. § 29-1-606 — Audit Filing Every local government must complete an annual audit within 180 days after the close of the fiscal year, or within 60 days after the completion of the audit. The audit report must be filed with the State Auditor and the Division of Local Government, and must be made available for public inspection.

C.R.S. § 29-1-603 — Audit Requirements The audit must be performed in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) by an independent certified public accountant licensed in Colorado. The auditor is selected by the governing board.

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Mill Levy & Property Taxation

Ad valorem tax authority under C.R.S. § 32-1-1101 and C.R.S. § 39-5-121

The District is authorized to levy and collect ad valorem property taxes on all taxable property within its boundaries. The mill levy is set annually during the budget process and certified to the Park County Assessor and Treasurer by December 15 each year.

Mill Levy History

Year	Mill Levy	Total Assessed Value	Property Tax Revenue
[YYYY]	[X.XXX]	$[Amount]	$[Amount]
[YYYY-1]	[X.XXX]	$[Amount]	$[Amount]
[YYYY-2]	[X.XXX]	$[Amount]	$[Amount]
[YYYY-3]	[X.XXX]	$[Amount]	$[Amount]

C.R.S. § 39-5-121 — Mill Levy Certification Each local government levying a property tax shall certify to the county assessor, on or before December 15, the amount of revenue required from property taxation and the corresponding mill levy. The county assessor shall then extend the tax on the assessment roll.

TABOR — Colo. Const. Art. X, § 20 The District must comply with the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. Revenue collections above the TABOR limit must be refunded to taxpayers unless voters authorize retention. New taxes or mill levy increases above the TABOR base require voter approval.

💲 Calculating Your Tax

To estimate your annual District property tax:

Find your Assessed Value on your tax notice
Multiply by the District's mill levy: [X.XXX]
Divide by 1,000

Example: $100,000 assessed value × [X.XXX] ÷ 1,000 = $[XX] per year

Contact the Park County Assessor for assessed value questions.

Debt & Obligations

Outstanding obligations and bonded indebtedness per C.R.S. § 32-1-1101 et seq.

The District may incur debt and issue bonds as authorized by Colorado law and approved by the Board of Directors or voters, as applicable. The District maintains a current schedule of all outstanding debt and obligations.

C.R.S. § 32-1-1101 — Financial Provisions A special district may borrow money and incur indebtedness for any purpose authorized by law. General obligation bonds require voter approval. Revenue bonds may be issued without voter approval for certain purposes. Outstanding debt is certified annually with the mill levy.

C.R.S. § 32-1-1201 et seq. — Bonds Special districts may issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and other forms of debt instruments as authorized by statute. All bonds are subject to applicable debt limitations and TABOR requirements.

Outstanding Debt Schedule — FY [YYYY]

Obligation	Original Amount	Outstanding Balance	Maturity	Purpose
[No outstanding debt] — or list obligations here

Purchasing & Procurement

Fiscal controls and procurement requirements

📋 Competitive Bidding

Public contracts over $[threshold] require competitive bids
Bid notices published per C.R.S. § 24-92-103
Emergency procurement authorized per statute
Contract awards approved by Board resolution
Contracts available for public inspection (CORA)

📄 Financial Policies

Investment policy adopted per C.R.S. § 24-75-601
Fund balance / reserve policy maintained
Petty cash policy with Board-set limits
Check signing authority defined by resolution
Annual review of financial policies by Board

💵 DOLA Annual Report

Filed annually with Division of Local Government
Due within 180 days of fiscal year end
Includes financial data and district information
Available through DOLA Special District portal
Required per C.R.S. § 32-1-207

View on DOLA →